The DIY Creator Struggle
Added 2024-09-22 14:56:46 +0000 UTCI gotta be honest, I'm struggling right now, and I could really use some help.
I left the safe harbor of my regular job in Sept of 2023, and embarked on the high seas as a do-it-yourself, independent creator. My game dev work was doing well at the time and covering my basic expenses, and I had a new book coming out shortly that I felt was my best work yet and a guaranteed seller. So, it felt like the right time to gather up my kit, hoist the main sail of my own vessel and set course for the unknown horizon.
Unfortunately, having the courage to set your own course isn't a guarantee of smooth sailing, and over the past year, I've encountered my fair share of rough seas and storms along the way.
In Oct of 2023, I released my new translation of Viking-Age proverbs for the modern-day adventurer, a collection of practical, hard-won wisdom from the ancient Norse on how to navigate the pitfalls of both primitive and modern life. But despite the almost nine years of work that went into it and the positive reviews of those outlets that covered it, book sales were (and still are) deeply disappointing. (Real talk: I've sold about 30 copies in the past 11 months & presently have 2 ratings on Amazon.)
In May of 2024, I released the final update for my game, Sanctuary in Time. After 18 massive post-launch updates, I felt like Sanctuary was finally in a place I could be proud of, and I had a burning desire to start building a bigger, more ambitious project. I was also burned-out on just building content for Sanctuary, and felt like further efforts would only be "going through the motions." (Which is really not fair to fans or myself.) So, I decided to focus on promoting the game as-is and working full-time on the new "DarkRPG" project.
I expected a drop in sales once regular content updates for Sanctuary ceased, but what I did not expect was a nearly 60% drop-off in revenue. (Yikes!) However, it was a decision I really needed to make, so I stuck with it, tightened my budget, and redoubled my efforts to promote.
But with that drop, being able to garner revenue from my books becomes even more important, so I've also redoubled my efforts to turn a frown upside down and make my latest book, Traveler's Rede, a success.
The following is what I’ve done to work toward that goal in recent weeks.
I've tweaked the cover art to make it more eye-catching from a distance (and when displayed at smaller sizes on digital store fronts).
I've re-written the sales pitch on the store page to have a stronger & more appealing “target audience” focus.
I've started running sexier, eye-catching promos on social media (featuring a fit, Viking maiden).
I’ve updated the A+ content on the Amazon store page to use similar artwork as above. (Those are the art-enhanced product details further down the page.)
I've reworked the search engine keywords attached to the project.
I've released the e-book edition on Kindle Unlimited. (So, some people can read it for free now!)
I've lowered the cover price of both editions of the book.
And last, but not least, I've also started running paid ads for the book on Amazon. (A further expense, yes, but hopefully one that will pay off.)
What I need most of all right now is for a whole lot of people to check this book out. Even if you've looked at it before & decided to pass, please, check it out again. If you like what you see, I'd truly appreciate if you check it out on Kindle Unlimited or pick up the e-book or paperback editions, and I'd also be immensely grateful if you leave honest feedback & reviews for the book after reading it. Every one of them truly does help, even if you think it might not.
Sharing news about the book or retweeting posts that discuss it (like this one!) are also a huge help. So, thank you in advance for anything and everything you can do to lend a hand.
Thank you for listening. Thank you for (hopefully) reading my book. And I wish you all the most blessed & fulfilling of days.
You can find Traveler’s Rede on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKPB138D
